About this episode

The episode discusses a turtle racing incident at a gay bar, the resignation of a city council member, and the upcoming mosquito season in Denver.

The Colfax staple Charlie’s got into trouble this week after a video posted to social media showed six little turtles “racing” on the legacy gay bar’s patio. So, was it a case of animal cruelty, a misunderstanding or something else? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love to dissect the turtle debacle – plus Councilmember Sarah Parady’s decision to step down and what the future holds for Denver City Council, and of course our wins and fails of the week. There’s more: In a special Neighbors-only bonus segment, the crew discuss Elliott’s reporting on a new program from the City of Denver that hopes to bribe folks to get out of their cars and walk, bike, or scoot instead. Not a member yet? Join the City Cast Denver neighborhood and get access to this segment! Bree mentioned dog attacks on mail carriers and the campus abortion medication access bill. Olivia discussed the mosquito season ahead and a wage theft case at Atomic Cowboy. Elliott talked about a new baby animal at the Denver Zoo (whose name you can help pick!) and a mother charged with murder. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning…

People in this episode

Hosts: Bree Davies, Olivia Jewell Love

Guest: Elliott Wenzler

Topics covered

• Denver City Council
• animal welfare
• local news
• mosquito forecast
• community programs
• turtle racing incident

Keywords

• Denver City Council
• turtle racing
• mosquito forecast
• animal cruelty
• local news
• Elliott Wenzler
• Charlie’s
• Colfax
• Sarah Parady
• wage theft

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Denver Post

Places: Colfax, Denver, Denver Zoo

More episodes of City Cast Denver

• Wanda James on Working for Barack Obama, Being Censured, and Running for Congress · June 4, 2026 · 32 min
• Melat Kiros on Money in Politics, Antisemitism, and Her Run for Congress · June 3, 2026 · 36 min
• Will the Broncos Stadium Actually Get Built By 2030? Plus, AI Backlash in Englewood and Which Congressperson Snubbed Us? · June 2, 2026 · 33 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the City Cast Denver podcast page.